Personalized Learning With Matt & Courtney

Matt and Courtney shift gears a bit, and start catching up with teachers we've talked with in the past, and figure out what they are doing in these remote learning times. We start this mini-series with Shannon Heath, an elementary teacher from Maine. What is happening in her multi-age classroom that she shares with other teachers, and how does it all work in these remote learning times?

Matt and Courtney discuss how much learning in these times is appropriate. We talk through what it looks like 3 weeks in - what does managing distance learning look like, because it sure isn't about DOING distance learning.

Matt and Courtney return! Although we are homebound these days, as is everyone else, there are still lots of things to think about around personalized learning. We talk about a lot of big picture things, how this is a perfect time to think about those things, and lots more. We'll be back weekly to talk through issues that come up - give us your feedback and what you'd like us to discuss!

Matt and Courtney are back with an interview with Dr. Cathy Vatterott, author of Rethinking Homework, now in its second edition. They discuss why she got into research around homework, what the research says (and why it's sometimes inconsistent), and some ideas about what to do in your school. Like a bunch of do-do's for homework. 

Matt and Courtney continue their Critical Thinking trimester with a discussion of concept attainment (or as we call it, the yes/no game). This is something you can do with your learners TODAY, be it young ones or adult ones. It's a short pod, but it's packed with goodness.....                    Find the book Courtney talks about here at https://www.amazon.com/Teaching-Deeper-Learning-Students-Meaning/dp/1416628622/ .

Matt and Courtney talk with Michaela Loo and Tricia Pettis at the SouthEast Personalized Learning Conference 2019 in Atlanta. Michaela and Tricia are sisters who started job sharing in their positions awhile back, and have constantly pushed each other to grow and learn as teachers. Find out their story here, and follow them on Twitter at @michaelamloo and @triciapettis10.

Matt and Courtney talk with Ryan Carlson, an assistant principal at Edina Schools in Minnesota at the SouthEast Personalized Learning Conference in Atlanta. He talks about the value of getting the community involved in the school system, how they support the changes they are trying to make, and how new teachers are supported. Get in touch with Ryan at ryan.carlson@edinaschools.org.

Matt and Courtney talk with Jerry Dryer at the SouthEast Personalized Learning Conference 2019 in Atlanta. Jerry is a grad student at the University of Wisconsin researching systems that are "doing" personalized learning, mapping them on a continuum, and designing a roadmap for systems to figure out what to do next. It's a great discussion, and if you want to learn more about the project, email Jerry at gdryer@wisc.edu. The survey is free!

Matt and Courtney talk with Janel Weiland at the SouthEast Personalized Learning Conference 2019 in Atlanta. She is a 7th-grade science teacher in the Edina School District in Minnesota, and her thing is flexible pacing. She talks about how it works in her classroom, how she got the kids to buy-in, and what kids are like in this environment. Follow her on Twitter at @WeilandJanel.

This week, Matt interviews Lauren Partma, a middle school teacher at a K-8 school in Pasadena, CA. She talks about the importance of mentoring, how to teach teachers about the importance of mentoring, and what mentoring can do for teachers in the classroom. She also talks about her time before she "saw the light", as it were, and how she imparts her wisdom on her colleagues (it's easier than you think!). Follow her on Twitter at @PartmaPasadena.

Matt and Courtney interview Tom Murray, Director of Innovation at Future Ready Schools, at the SouthEast Personalized Learning Conference 2019. Tom discusses his latest book, Personal and Authentic, and how it relates to what we are doing in schools today, and how we can make them better. It's a great discussion! Follow him on Twitter @thomascmurray.

Matt and Courtney talk with Tim Anderson, principal at South View Middle School in Edina, Minnesota. He talks how to frame the work to the community in a way that makes sense to them, how teachers collaborate to foster deep knowledge of their learners, and how new teachers are supported. Setting the conditions is very important! Contact Tim at timothy.anderson@edinaschools.org

Matt and Courtney speak with Beth Rabbitt, CEO of The Learning Accelerator, at the Southeast Personalized Learning Conference. She makes sense of the ways the field is learning, and what the trends across the country are. She identifies four big patterns that are emerging. Follow her at @learningaccel on Twitter!

Matt and Courtney interview Stacy Lovdahl at the SouthEast Personalized Learning Conference 2019 in Atlanta. Stacy is an educator on loan for Western North Carolina, so not that big of a deal (!). She talks about the trends she sees when she goes out to all kinds of different schools in NC, and asks them what they need to be successful - and then helps them do it! It's a great talk about how to help teachers along their journey, and she's a great follow on Twitter - find her at @braveneutrino!

Matt and Courtney talk with Allison Rodman, author of Personalized Professional Learning at the SouthEast Personalized Learning Conference. They discuss some tips that teachers can start with, being okay with finding what is actually working for learners, what accountability looks like, and asking ourselves "did I cover content, or cause learning?". It's a great listen! Follow her on Twitter @thelearningloop.

Matt and Courtney have pulled off a coup of some sort, interviewing Dr. Alfie Kohn, an education researcher and author. He answers a bunch of questions Matt and Courtney had, including why we might have to change our podcast name. Read the stuff on his website at alfiekohn.org and become more critical thinkers about what we are doing in our education system to our learners. Follow him on Twitter at @alfiekohnWhy is it imperative that we take time to critically examine our educational systems?If we want our learners to be critical thinkers, what does that look like, what does that mean, what are some ways teachers can do that without creating a course or a class?What are some ways that teachers can involve learners in their own personalization?It’s not personalized learning anymore - “the bad guys have won!”Interested in personal learningHow can we ensure that all learners are getting a “good” education?How is a curriculum based on kids’ wonderings fit in with a system of learning targets?

Matt and Courtney talk with Dan Carroll, a physics/astronomy teacher at Yorktown High School in Arlington VA. They discuss being an organizer for the personalized learning conferences, how tech isn't the answer if all it does is enhance what you did before, and much more! Follow Dan on Twitter at @EdTech2061 and @dcarrphys

Matt and Courtney talk with Katie Willet, a 7th-grade science teacher at Williamsburg Middle School in Arlington, VA. They talk about her jorney towards a personalized learning vision, how she started, strategies she used to realize her personalized learning goals, and how to get teachers started on their own journey. Follow her on Twitter at @WilletKatie.

Matt and Courtney interview Dr. Justin Aglio, the Director of Academic Achievement and District Innovation at Montour School District and Visiting LearnLab Fellow at Carnegie Mellon University's Human-Computer Interaction Institute in the School of Computer Science. He talks about designing the future that we envision through personalized learning. It's a great conversation that talks about putting teachers in the footsteps of their learners, and how that changed the way they thought about what school looked like.  Follow Justin on Twitter @JustinAglio.Stay for the great background music!

Matt and Courtney continue their critical thinking series with Annie Taranto, the Senior Lead Staff Developer for Teachers College Reading and Writing Project (aka Lucy Calkins project). Annie talks about why argument is so important, how to deal with controversial topics in the classroom, how teachers with limited resources can still bring a rich argument environment into the classroom, and much more. Thanks for listening, and don't forget to rate and review!